STAND. COM. REP. NO.  830-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2203

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2203, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permit solar energy facilities on agricultural lands classified under the Land Study Bureau's Overall Productivity Ratings as class B and C; provided that a special use permit is obtained, the area occupied by the solar energy facilities is made available for compatible agricultural activities at a lease rate that is at least 50% below fair market value, and the facilities are removed within 12 months after operations end.

Hawaii Farm Bureau; Tin Roof Ranch; First Wind Solar Group; and an individual testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Planning; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Agriculture; Blue Planet Foundation; and Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance commented on this measure.  

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Clarifying the preamble to accurately reflect the State's reliance on fossil fuels, based on updated information requested by your Committees.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2203, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2203, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair